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Arcane Drifters – Chapter 103: "Summon of the Twelve Shadows"
In a space beyond reality, where the stars themselves kneel…
A floating, shattered throne made of obsidian hovers above an endless sea of black fire.
This is the Arcane Throne Realm.
And now, after 2000 years…
The Twelve Arcane Lords have returned.
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One by one, dark rifts open.
A figure with ten wings made of screams arrives first.
> "I am Lord Valtherix, Wielder of Nightmare Flame."
A giant with a void where his face should be follows.
> "I am Lord Graltz, Crusher of Reality."
A tall woman made of crystals and shadows, floating sideways.
> "I am Lady Xerna, Queen of Arcane Bones."
A cloaked being of pure blue fire.
> "Lord Nelgar — Death Spiral Mage."
And more arrive…
Until the High Twelve fill the sky.
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They form a perfect ring around the Broken Throne.
It is empty.
But a voice echoes through the realm…
> "You all feel it, don't you?"
"The world trembles."
"The humans awaken."
> "And the one who defied the King… has returned."
They show a hologram of Shen — slashing down Arcane Generals alone.
Anger.
Silence.
Then…
> "We must bring him back," says Lord Valtherix.
"Our King. The Arcane King."
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Lady Xerna raises a claw.
> "The resurrection spell was forbidden even for us."
> "The soul of the Arcane King was shattered into seven ruins and sealed across the universes…"
But Lord Graltz roars:
> "We have waited centuries! The seals are weak. The world is weak!"
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Then a massive, black coffin rises from the core of the throne.
It glows red.
Seven giant locks glow on the surface.
And one of them… has already cracked.
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> "Shen's awakening," says Nelgar slowly.
"It echoed through time and woke one lock."
> "The boy… is connected to the King."
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They each raise their hands.
Each one places a piece of power.
> "We will give one power each to rebuild the King's soul."
> "And when he returns…"
> "He will be beyond Arcane. Beyond monster. Beyond reason."
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The sky shakes.
The black coffin beats once — like a heart.
And far away… on Earth…
Shen suddenly grabs his chest.
> Thump.
> What was that?
> Kenya: "You okay?"
> Shen: "…Yeah. Just… felt something strange."
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In the shadows of the Arcane Realm, a final voice speaks.
A 13th voice?
No.
An ancient one.
> "My resurrection… begins."
> "Let the Drifters rise…"
> "So that I may crush them again."
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Chapter End
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